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inveterate

[ in-vet-er-it ]
/ ɪnˈvɛt ər ɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR inveterate ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

settled or confirmed in a habit, practice, feeling, or the like: an inveterate gambler.
firmly established by long continuance, as a disease, habit, practice, feeling, etc.; chronic.

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Origin of inveterate

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin inveterātus (past participle of inveterāre “to grow old, allow to grow old, preserve”), equivalent to in- in-2 + veter- (stem of vetus “old”) + -ātus -ate1; cf. veteran

OTHER WORDS FROM inveterate

in·vet·er·ate·ly, adverbin·vet·er·ate·ness, noun

Words nearby inveterate

investment casting, investment company, investment tax credit, investment trust, inveteracy, inveterate, inviable, “Invictus”, invidious, in view, in view of
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to inveterate

incurable, hard-core, habitual, addicted, hardened, lifelong, abiding, accustomed, chronic, confirmed, continuing, customary, deep-rooted, deep-seated, dyed-in-the-wool, enduring, entrenched, fixed, inbred, incorrigible

Example sentences from the Web for inveterate

British Dictionary definitions for inveterate

inveterate
/ (ɪnˈvɛtərɪt) /

adjective

long established, esp so as to be deep-rooted or ingrainedan inveterate feeling of hostility
(prenominal) settled or confirmed in a habit or practice, esp a bad one; hardenedan inveterate smoker
obsolete full of hatred; hostile

Derived forms of inveterate

inveteracy or inveterateness, nouninveterately, adverb

Word Origin for inveterate

C16: from Latin inveterātus of long standing, from inveterāre to make old, from in- ² + vetus old
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for inveterate

inveterate
[ ĭn-vĕt′ər-ĭt ]

adj.

Firmly and long established; deep-rooted.
Persisting in an ingrained habit; habitual.

Other words from inveterate

in•vet′er•a•cy (-ər-ə-sē) n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.